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Rangers Select RHP Luis Ortiz and SS Ti'quan Forbes on first day of MLB Draft

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Press Release |

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers selected right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz with the 30th overall pick and shortstop Tiquan Forbes at 59th overall on the first day of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Ortiz was the club's first round selection. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander attended Sanger (Calif.) High School, where he was named all-league after his senior season. He went 5-3 with a 1.04 ERA and 72 strikeouts against just 7 walks in 43.2 innings this year. He was named World Cup MVP after serving as closer for the gold medal-winning 18-and-under USA Baseball national team, earning a win and 3 saves in 5 appearances for that squad. Ortiz was rated as the 28th-best prospect by Baseball America, and was listed as the 14th-best right-handed pitcher by that publication. MLB.com rated him as its 24th-best overall prospect. He has committed to Fresno State University.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Forbes batted .427 with 3 home runs and 32 RBI as a senior for Columbia High School in Columbia, Mississppi. A three-sport star in high school, Forbes also pitched for the Class 4A State Champions this season, going 18-8 with 191 strikeouts in his high school career. The Ole Miss recruit was tabbed by Baseball America as the 5th-best shortstop prospect and 46th-best prospect overall. Baseball America also listed him as the top prospect coming out of the state of Mississippi.

The Rangers gave up their original first round pick with the signing of free agent Shin-Soo Choo, and were awarded the 30th overall selection as compensation for the Orioles' signing of free agent Nelson Cruz. The 59th pick was the club's regular second round selection.

The draft continues at 12 Noon tomorrow, a day that is scheduled to cover rounds 3 through 10.